Why do artists/bands lose steam as they progress?

I have noticed that the music made my most artists/bands is terrific during their first few records, but eventually gets monotonous, boring or plain dull. It's not really about their age, though. Just that the quality of music drastically reduces after they have put out a few records. There are exceptions, but very few. What could be the reason?

Most Helpful Girl

This is true of many band but not all. One reason is that creativity peaks between ages 30 to 40 in most humans no matter if it be in the sciences, math, writing or music.

Radiohead is one of the first exceptions that comes to mind. They've come a long way since The Bends. NIN is also a very sweet exception. The Fragile is my favorite piece of work by them. While Neil Young petered out a bit ago him now being in his seventies he gave us much good music for many decades.

Of course I can't overlook David Bowie this week. His style changed drastically over the years. Frank Zappa is a god. Fiona Apple continues to churn out good music as does Adele, Modonna, Cher.

These people are rarities. In other fields such as Physics most peak around 40. They are still great minds but by your later years most your good stuff is behind you. You may be better than most but not better than your 30 or 40 year old self. Same goes with athletes.

I do believe that The British band Iron maiden, Australian band AC/DC, and German band Scorpions have maintained consistently good quality music over several decades, except for a few disappointing records here and there.

I'm not quite sure if it is the kind of music you can like or appreciate overnight. I mean they've been a band for 30 years and you would probably have to listen in chronological order to see the change.

In their later years they became an experimental art rock, math rock type band. All of Europe and most of Asia is obsessed with them. I didn't know India wasn't but I guess they've never toured there so...

If you do listen listen to OK Computer or The Bends. Those are their earlier albums and generally likable.

Well... international bands hardly, if ever, tour India. Besides, my interests in music usually never have to do with the artist or bands touring here. It;s just that my interests are so vast, that I tend to miss out on some really good bands!

No it's not a niche. Igor Stravinsky is a classical composer who famously started a riot on Champs-Élysées on the opening night of The Rite of Spring in 1913. The music was rumored to have whipped the audience into such a frenzy the upset started in the theatre then poured out onto the streets descending into a riot.

The only reason I asked was because of you like Stravinsky Radiohead uses some of his musical textures.

Your question was why do they lose steam. I can't help but respond with the many. Artists who didn't and are admired. I appreciate exceptional musicianship. ☺️

Well the reason I used them as an example is because no two albums sound at all the same. So that said it is subjective which one a person likes the most. The Bends was their break through album and is kind of more sad music but then the follow up album OK Computer is more upbeat and completely different. These are the two albums most people really like. The song Creep is from an earlier bum but their most famous song. You'll probably recognize it.

My favorite albums are Hail to the theif on which they broke the rock beat with 2+2= 5. and In Rainbows is my second favorite album.

Johnny Greenwood of the band won an Academy Award for his music score on There Will Be Blood with Day-Lewis.

I don't know they are just one of the very few artists out there who are writing music for the sake of it not for mass production but actually very successful while doing so. Even if I didn't like their music I would have mad respect for them.

Yeah, you do make sense. But it's so sad, you know! For example, when you listen to the first album and the latest album of a particular band/artist, you notice the vast difference in quality of the material. There are very few artists/bands I can think of, who have been consistent with the quality of their music.

Yeah I understand man. We as fans want more of the same. We want that same classic again and again and again. You're right that only a few artists can do that, and typically those are the ones who are considered the greatest artists of all time.

But I really do try to think of it like Tyler The Creator said. At first I was like "This guy can't be serious." But I mean really when you think about it I mean why not listen to the older stuff again? I mean it makes you cherish those albums more you know?

Don't like Iron Maiden. AC/DC yeah. Not really a fan, but they have good music. Never heard of the other two. I like rock somewhat, but I'm mostly a hip hop fan. From there I've got Outkast and Kanye in mind. Em has had a couple of classics. Nas. Jay Z. Kendrick I think has two now.

I don't really like teen pop. I quit really being into that when groups like Britney Spears and the Backstreet Boys ended. Death metal makes me sick. I don't see how anyone could call that music, but to each their own.

What Girls & Guys Said

Because they're just appealing to the current market. They dont do anything new or truly original. Older bands just did their own thing without trying to be popular, so they developed a loyal fanbase who followed them over the years. People now just listen to whatever is popular that week and the bands are nearly forgoten very quickly.

You mean to say, these artists/bands just sellout? Yeah, that's true in a lot of cases. And some of them just make bad changes to their musical style just for the heck of it. I mean.. why fix something which ain't broken?

I feel like some just get to stuck in their sound... There's a lack of capability or unwillingness to expand their sound and make any attempt at real growth. Ideas are played out to the point where they can produce anything original anymore...

Every musician has their own way of interpreting their instrument and how to play it. In time, I think many "hit their peak" and then just exhaust themselves.

I think this is because the original motive of a band is more about the music. Once they get successful, it revolves more around success and money. Takes the creativity right our of your sails. Bands are almost better off retiring at that point.

The main reason I've seen is that they have burned through all of their ideas. It's hard to talk about how hard your life is when you are making millions and are boning the fans. What's left that they can talk about that their fans can relate to?

Whether you think an artistic production is good is a function of it leading you just the right amount. It has to be familiar enough to be accessible and new enough to be interesting. If your tastes move at a different speed than the artists you either leave them behind and they become trite or they leave you behind and they become esoteric.